The joint Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons (SPVS) and Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) Practice Stars Awards have opened up again for 2021 and are looking for those members of staff who have helped keep up morale during a difficult year.

All members of the veterinary team are eligible to be nominated for a Practice Star Award including veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses, student vets & VNs, animal care assistants, practice managers, technicians, receptionists and other support staff.

To nominate a colleague for a Practice Star, practices should fill in the online form at https://vetwellbeingawards.org.uk/practice-star-2021/ with a short outline of how the individual has helped keep up morale and support their colleagues over the course of the past year.

Liz Barton, the SPVS Board’s wellbeing representative said, “This is a great opportunity for you to discuss positive initiatives together as a team, reflect on the great things that you are doing to help your practice wellbeing, and nominate one person who you would particularly like to thank.

“From previous Practice Star awards we’ve found that small acts of kindness – a gesture, a comment, a positive word or two – can have an enormous impact on the overall wellbeing and morale of a team. If you know someone who has had this kind of effect on the workplace then please make sure to get in touch and nominate them as a Practice Star.”

Lisa Quigley, Mind Matters Manager, added: “We will be publishing details of all of the nominations on the Mind Matters website and sending each of them a certificate. They will also all be entered into a prize draw with two being chosen at random to receive free tickets to the joint Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Management Group Congress in 2022.”

More information about the Practice Star Awards can be found at: https://vetwellbeingawards.org.uk/practice-star-2021/